Saints Plan On Going Places With Signing of Tripp

ST. PAUL, MNFebruary 25, 2013

Saints Plan On Going Places With Signing of Tripp

February 25, 2013 at 2:22 PM

ST. PAUL, MN (February 25, 2013) – The motto for the 2013 St. Paul Saints is, “Everything old is new again” because for the second time this month they are bringing back a former player. After signing infielder Craig Brazell, who played for the Saints in 2009, earlier in the month, they have now inked 2011 alumnus, outfielder Brandon Tripp.

The 27-year-old Tripp, spent the last season and a half in the Philadelphia Phillies organization and split time between Single-A Clearwater and Double-A Reading in 2012. He hit .264 with six home runs and 44 RBI in 108 games. In 368 at bats he scored 44 runs, had 21 doubles, four triples, a .316 on base percentage and a .391 slugging percentage.

During his 2011 season with the Saints Tripp hit .314 with nine homers and 48 RBI in 60 games. In 239 at bats he scored 36 runs, roped 21 doubles, two triples, had an on base percentage of .362 and a .531 slugging percentage. When his contract was purchased by the Phillies he was first on the Saints in doubles and slugging percentage, second in homers and third in average.

Tripp put up eye popping numbers with the Saints in 2011 including his 17-game hitting streak from May 21-June 8. During that streak he also had extra base hits in six straight, homered in back-to-back games, multi-RBI in five straight and at least one RBI in six straight.

His hot 2011 seasons didn’t cool off in the Phillies organization spending the rest of the season with Clearwater. He hit .322 with five homers and 20 RBI in 42 games. In 152 at bats he smacked 13 doubles, had an on base percentage of .370 and a slugging percentage of .507.

The 26-year-old Tripp spent all of 2010 at Double-A Jacksonville (Florida Marlins) where he hit .289 with eight homers and 46 RBI in 118 games. In 450 at bats he scored 52 runs, had a career high 35 doubles, two triples, a .369 on base percentage and a .449 slugging percentage.

Tripp was drafted in the 21st round of the 2003 June Amateur Draft by the Florida Marlins, but elected to play in college at Cal State Fullerton. That helped his draft stock as he was selected in the 12th round by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2006 June Amateur Draft.

After a slow start to his career in 2006 at Single-A Aberdeen, he took off in 2007 at Single-A Delmarva. He hit .288 with career highs in homers (19) and RBI (79) in 104 games. In 371 at bats he scored a career high 72 runs, walloped 25 doubles, four triples, with a .377 on base percentage and a .531 slugging percentage, both career highs.

Tripp spent all of 2008 at High A Frederick in the Carolina League and, after the season, was released by the Orioles, but found a home with the team that originally drafted him, the Marlins. He had a solid season in the pitcher friendly Florida State League in 2009.

During the off-season the Saints have signed eight players, five pitchers and three position players. The Saints 2013 season begins on Thursday, May 16 with a 7:05 p.m. home game against the New Jersey Jackals.